Psychedelic tryptamines may improve behavior by acting on 5-HT2A serotonin receptors

Activation of 5-HT2A receptors is essential for tryptamine-based psychedelics to produce antidepressant-like effects in rodents.

• Psychedelic compounds show potential for treating depression in both humans and rodents.
• Hallucinogenic effects of psychedelics are typically linked to the activation of serotonin 2A receptors.
• It remains uncertain whether the same receptors mediate their antidepressant effects.
• Nonhallucinogenic analogues of psychedelics have been developed, exhibiting antidepressant-like properties.
• Psychedelic tryptamines may induce both hallucinogenic and therapeutic effects through the same receptor activation.

Simplified